2010 music in review

Yes, I know I haven't posted things for Christmas yet. I will get to that this weekend, hopefully.

In the meantime, I wanted to do a musical review of this past year, with Addie and Ben's favorites highlighted.

We started the year with "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" fresh off of Addie's 2009 audition for America's Got Talent. That carried us well into the surprise of a lifetime when we went to get to see Annie live in Philadelphia.
This was also the year of the tv show Glee introducing Addie and Ben to certain music. Uncle Jeremy is very concerned that Addie and Ben will grow up believing that Rachel Barry or Finn are the actual singers of these songs. We assure you they will not. Anyway, Glee introduced Addie and Ben to "Defying Gravity," "Don't Stop Believing" and Ben's personal favorite "Busta Move." We also have enjoyed "Sweet Caroline" and "Jesse's Girl" from our Glee collection.
Taylor Swift was still popular in our house as well. "White Horse" was an early favorite, as well "Fifteen."
Finally, our biggest "rocking out songs" which are truly felt in Benjamin's blood. The number one rocking out song is definitely "Bohemian Rhapsody," to which both know more words than just about every adult I've ever heard try to sing it. The close second rocking out song is "Dynamite" by Tao Cruz. And finally, the third rocking out song is "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz.
Their favorite songs to slow dance to are still "Sleepy Jeans" and "Lost in This Moment."
From this list, I think it's safe to say that Addie and Ben like a variety of music and are exposed to musical diversity and appreciate it. Curious what next year's list will look like, right?

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve celebrations were fun-filled as is usual. Little bit of a tough time getting both of the kids to smile at the camera with their eyes open, but you know...

Muddy bought this dress for Addie when I was pregnant with her. Can't believe she's big enough to wear it and looks so mature.

Addie is wearing her heels in this picture.

Mr. Maturity

Uncle Jeremy, Addie, Aunt Amanda and Benjamin, the serious happy picture.

And the goofy picture.

Aunt Wendy, Addie, Ben and Uncle Richard (and his favorite hat)

Onkteb and his favorite kids. Lovin' Addie's pose

Aunt Kim, Uncle Tom, Ben and Addie. Her satin skirt made her slip off of anything/anyone she sat on!

A little blurry, but the best one of us. By the time we got to us, Addie and Ben weren't so into the idea of taking pictures.

A whole lotta family.

Aunt Kim and Uncle Tom gave them Zipfy sleds. Luckily for them, we are in midst of a snow storm, so we'll have a chance to use them tomorrow!

Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda gave them Paper Jamz guitars. Pam and Victoria sent a leather jacket for Ben. Together- it was the perfect rocker ensemble. Since Ben loves "rocking out songs," he was totally in to rocking out. This is his "rocking out" face, and when asked if he could smile, he shook his head no. Rockers don't smile. They stare intensely.

Addie also got some sweet duds from Pam and Victoria, which matched with the pink Paper Jamz truly made the whole outfit.

Our Christmas tree

So our tree is a little wonky. It has abnormally long branches and not very many of them, which became glaringly apparent while decorating it this weekend. As you can see, it's got some odd, randomly long branch extensions in some places.

I love decorating the Christmas tree each year. Roughly half of our ornaments were handmade over the years from my siblings and/or Brian. We have a few on there handmade by Addie or Ben too. There's even a few from Tyrese (who is now 10 years old!). I just love the memory each ornament brings back. Unique ornaments are always a great gift.

As you can see, this year we decided to put one of Ben's geotrax trains together around the base of the tree. The kids think it's pretty cool, and so do I!

Longwood Gardens

We went to Longwood Gardens last night to do their Christmas tour, enjoy the lights and go to the "kids-servatory" as Ben calls it. That would actually be the Conservatory, which houses the children's garden. Ben, very creatively, blended the words.

Most of the pictures look like this.

See?

Hey, there's an original idea-- Addie and Ben in front of a Christmas tree.

At the end was the most beautiful HUGE Christmas tree I've ever seen. The ornaments were enormous.

Addie, the texter

Addie asked to see Brian's cellphone tonight. Next thing I know I get a text from "Brian" saying "Addie love you" I laughed and told her "I love you too." Not a minute later, I get another text that says "Mom you roc" We had a good laugh about that one. Wonder how to preserve that forever, or until let's say she's 12?

Cookie baking picture.

A picture from our cookie baking extravaganza this week.

Cookie making

We're in cooking-making mode here. It's not Christmas in our house without lots of types of cookies to munch on. The other night the kids and I made sugar cookies. They were decked out in their aprons and just having a great time. They each got to choose one cookie to take in their lunches for Tuesday. Ben chose his angel with Christmas trees, Addie chose her angel with those little silver balls in a lump. So when I picked them up from school and daycare, I naturally asked how their cookies tasted. Ben informed us that they made cookies that day too! He was so excited. He explained that he had his angel cookie, a circle cookie and a snowman cookie. Without missing a beat, he shouted, "It was so much sugar!"