I have had 2 girls sick for the past 3 1/2 days. They are now on antibiotics, which means by this afternoon we can actually leave our house without infecting anyone. If only antibiotics cured the ability to cry, cabin fever, and just plain grumpiness. Then we might survive. As of now, it may not happen. Wish us luck.
As my previous post stated I am getting ready to accept registration forms. For the first time, I might have more people, that are seriously interested, than I have room for. I have a week to practice saying "Sorry, the class if full". For that reason, I have to wait to take any forms until next Friday. I can't give anyone a "better advantage" of getting a spot. So for those of you who I had talked to about bringing me the form a bit early, we'll have to wait until Friday. I guess it's a good thing, but I don't like that end of the business!
I got to play in my first rec-volleyball game this past Wednesday. It was
soooo much fun. I am by far the
suckiest one on the team, but luckily Coach Erin likes me, and for some odd reason sees past my inability to jump, serve overhand, and pass to the setter who is on right (as opposed to being in the center like I've always played)? Now, obviously I know how to jump - I was a cheerleader - but did you know there is a difference between a cheer jump and a sport jump? Come watch us play and notice the difference of Erin and I, or Tami and I, (or pretty much any other team mate of mine for that matter), jumping---I jump from my balls of my feet - they jump from a squatting position. Eventually I'll get it, right? I really need to start doing
Plyometrics (which I did once a week for 3 months - but now that I know that I jump wrong, it would probably be a whole lot more effective - or is a affective - why can't I remember the rule when using those words???)
Konrad is going to be traveling a bunch in the next few weeks. Not very long trips but still gone almost once a week for something. He was in New Mexico this week, ended up volunteering to get bumped on his flight home, received a voucher for $400. Which means.....I get to go to New York with him in February!
Whoo-
hoo! I can't wait!!! He has to go for work so - his flight, hotel, car, and his food will all be covered! That's the way to travel! He is also going to Texas, California, and ??? (somewhere else) in the next few weeks.
Kimber and I had a battle of wills this morning. It was Crazy Hat day at school today. We received a handful of the cute beanies all the girls are wearing these days from Grandma C and so
Kimber decided she would cover the entire hat in big cute bows. She was all prepped and ready to go - and I had made her promise not to lose any of the bows. She's about to walk out the door and a friend mentions that she doesn't think it's crazy hat day. Well
Kimber is at that age where she will be more than
embarrassed if she chose the wrong day to wear this crazy hat (who am I kidding, I would have been embarrassed as well), so she pulls it off (which of course pulls off bows) and she says she is just going to carry it to school. She is freaking out, which leads me to get upset, and I immediately turn into "mean mom" saying "You will lose the bows if you carry it, therefore either wear it or leave it at home". Really Ashlee?? I was making her choose between being
embarrassed if she was wrong or not having the chance to even wear it. So of course she cries "I'm not wearing it then" but I can tell how upset she is that she can't even bring it with her. Now on top of all this, the bus is already at the bus stop - all the kids are loaded and they are waiting for her while she is pleading for me to go get the hat. Why am I so mean? I say "there isn't time, get on the bus". Of course I come in feeling horrible. So I email her teacher, asking if it crazy hat day, and then once getting the "Yes it is" email, I drove to the school and dropped it off. Why didn't I just choose the easy way? It just makes me laugh/cry/wonder why I have to do things like that? I would have reacted the same way she had, yet I don't feel what she is feeling until too late to do something about it. Oh well, hopefully she won't be scarred for life and will see that I tried to make things better by taking her her hat. Right??? Since I know Kimber will read this later (my dad always reads the blog to her and I always end up in trouble for things I say) I will say "Sorry Kimber! I love you!"
Okay, since I am going to be home all day, but want to be productive, my goal is not to sit in this comfy computer chair all day long. I better get going. I won't come back for at least an hour :)
Samantha and her friend from school:
another picture of Sam:
The lighting in the gym was really bad and we really need a nicer camera! We did take a few videos, but I've yet to master the skill of uploading them!
We received some cute bows for Christmas from Grandma Crabtree. Many are pretty large - and she loves to wear them.
This picture shows off, not only the bow, but Allison's favorite shirt as well. Notice the thumb holes? She loves that her sleeves don't get pushed up when she puts on her coat. 
Alli is the one who got her hair curled today (when it's my turn for Sharing time there isn't time to curl everyone's hair). I love my new curling iron! (notice the diaper box in the background? that is the absolute last diaper box in my house - and it's from 2 years ago! yeah for big kids!)
Now if she would only stop being so grouchy! The last two days have been pretty scary. Where is my sweet little Allison???? I hope she comes back soon!
ready to return a serve
serving (the first game she scored 4 or 5 points, in a row, and got the "Star of the Game" award)
Getting her award at the end of the season party from Coach Mark and Coach/Bishop Leder (do you call him coach or Bishop??? :))
"Let's Go Explosion. Let's Go!" - they spent most of their time on the sidelines yelling this cheer. 
My sister Michelle was in town the weekend before Christmas (for the Rockettes - which was really fun, by the way) - so of course we took an updated cousin picture. Notice Alli's big toe sticking out. How embarrassing!
Alli and her favorite person of all time - little Kenzie. She asks to hold her all the time. She wishes Kenzie lived at our house!
Grandpa and Kimber singing/playing Christmas songs
Konrad and the girls doing tricks
The Dance family watching the tricks and High School Musical
Go Sam Go!
Decorating sugar cookies
Making Candy Christmas Trees
Kimber's
Sam and Alli's
There was a lot of singing (the girls with my girls are family friends that luckily save all Holidays for my girls - they love having friends their age to play with)
There was wrestling.....
There was pinata busting - Alli is wearing the bottom of the snowman
Christmas
Kimber
Sam and her Scooby Doo stuff
Alli
The aftermath of all the opening
Scooby Doo
Alli with the biggest flower on her head that I have ever seen. :) 
On to the Crabtree's:
read books.....
posed for pictures in new dresses and hats....
cuddled new blankets....
took pictures with mom....
why didn't Kimber look at the camera? 
funny faces 
made art projects (this is a Paperoni project)
and drank the best hot chocolate ever - thanks to Grandma's new Hot Cocoa maker!
It was a great Christmas. We loved every minute!