School Projects Will be the Death of Me

I'm not sure if anyone remembers the damselfly from last year, but when teachers assign 'projects' that translates to homework for the parents. Madalyn had to complete a Rubric to make a mobile for a book that she had read. Aly and AJ: First Stop New York: Rock-n-Roll Mysteries was Madalyn's book of choice. Aly and AJ are a Disney band of sisters that we saw at the Hannah Montana concert in January - they sing the Potential Breakup Song and apparently solve mysteries in books in their spare time. I say that because I got away without actually reading the book, but the mobile was 25% of her Reading grade. It took almost 6 hours to complete when it was all said and done and it felt like finals all over again. We'll have to make sure that Aly and AJ don't see her Camp Rock shirt when she turns it in tomorrow. I hope that I, I mean she, makes a good grade!

Makenzie's Bday

Madalyn got to attend a birthday party at Justice. If you have a daughter older than 5 and you haven't been to Justice, count yourself lucky! They opened one at Southpark Meadows and Madalyn LOVES to go there. It really is a little girl's dream store. And now they do parties - the girls got their hair done, makeup, a shopping spree, and then got to make t-shirts which they all wore to school today. Thanks Makenzie!

Budafest 2008

Budafest is always a lot of fun, and this year was not any different. Jeff drove a trailer of little ones for Dance Unlimited in the parade. Mom and Julie got to ride in the truck with him and Jessie and I held down the fort in the back of the truck. The kids always get a kick out of it and I was impressed that Madalyn, Macey and Kayla walked the whole route to hold the DU banner in front of the 3 (yes, 3) trailers of kids. We were able to polish off the end of the day with some great festival food and then head out to more fun for the day. Good times!

Eli's Christening

Eli during the service

The whole crew

Eli with godparents, parents and the pastors
On Sunday, our newest cousin Elijah Luke Crenshaw, 'Eli' for the cool kids was christened at Gethsemane Lutheran in Austin. Just one more chapter of our family story that has taken place at the church. Eli is Chris and Sarah's son and the first grandson for my Aunt Janice. He's super sweet and I can't wait to see him again at Christmas in a few weeks. Eli wore the christening gown that many of the family members have worn (Beck was the only one of our kids that wore it) that my great-grandmother made 95 years ago for my Uncle Heartwin. Pretty darn cool.

Girl Scout Troop Christmas Party

Madalyn and Girl Scout Troop 2283 went to the Horizon Bay nursing home on December 7 to sing Christmas carols to the residents. The girls did an amazing job and the people there were really happy to see them. We went to dinner at Kobe afterwards for the girls to exchange ornaments and get their awards for the fall season. Madalyn got four Try-It patches, a Hay Ride patch for working the ride at the Fall Carnival, and of course - the Polar Bear patch. The most earned patch of them all. The girls are beautiful, maturing and growing up way too fast.

Sights and Sounds 2008

Madalyn's dance team danced in San Marcos on December 4th at their Christmas festival, Sights and Sounds. The Darlings Team did a great job, except Madalyn forgot to take her mittens off (which were bright pink and VERY noticable). Poor thing, whoops! This is my favorite of their 3 competition dances, although they're going to add one more Production dance that incorporates all 4 dance teams. They just got their costumes in and it will be fun to show everyone those. I haven't seen it on her yet, but it made Jeff cringe a bit. He he. Any way, we were fortunate enough to have Julie, Jessie and Ella there to enjoy the cold evening with us which included LOTS of cotton candy and a caramel apple for Ella. :)