Amber's Living Christmas Tree performance

Amber and the student (youth) choir did a great job on the living Christmas Tree on December 10th. Amber was on the 6th row up from the bottom and a little left of center. Her cousin, Chris, was also in the performance. He was on the 2nd row from the bottom and to the right of the tree. Here are some pictures from the performance.

Amber

Chris

Amber singing

Amber in lights

There to see this amazing performance were: Me (of course) and...

Alyssa

Papaw

Nana

Brian, Alex, & Brittany,

Grandma, Grandpa and (of course) Uncle Ken and

Aunt Donna
(What's up with that? No one really knows!!!!)

***CHRISTMAS BELIEVERS BEWARE***

******DISCLAIMER: CHRISTMAS BELIEVERS BEWARE********

We are officially, unofficially a non-believing Christmas house. Alyssa asked the big Christmas question the other day..."Is Santa real?"

Now, bear in mind, that Alyssa asked this question about 2 years ago. When she asked me then, I asked her if she really, really wanted to know (asked about 20 times). She said, "YES." So, I told her the truth. She was devastated by this news -- so I did what any mom would have done, I told her I was kidding...everyone knows Santa is real. Well, Alyssa doesn't remember this happening (which helped her to continue to believe). So here we are in the present...

"Is Santa real?" This time I wanted to make sure she really wanted to know. I asked her, "Do you really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want to know?" Of course, she said, "YES." So, we had 'THE TALK'. I came clean about Santa. She didn't cry, so far so good! I figure, let's take it a little further...

I asked her if she wanted to know about any other people. She wasn't sure what I meant. So I said, "You know, Cupid, the Boogey Man, Mother Nature, Father Time..." She asked, "Are they real?" I again asked her, "Do you really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really want to know?" Of course, she said, "YES." So, we had another talk. I came clean about Cupid, the Boogey Man, Mother Nature, Father Time, Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. She looked at me and asked, "So, is the Sand Man real?" I came clean again.

Alyssa has handled the news well. She shamelessly announces her gift requests as loudly as possible. I think she was ready this time. She even wrote about "the Santa truth" in her journal at school.

As I said in the beginnning we are officially, unofficially a non-believing Christmas house. This means, we still go through the motions...JUST IN CASE...someone gave us the wrong information!!

A little bird told me...Santa wants Oatmeal Raisin cookies from Subway and a cold coke under the tree.

MY BABY IS GROWING UP!!!!!

A Much Needed 411

It has been a while since my last posting. So I feel that an update is very much needed. I apologize for the delay. I will try to do better.

Amber
Amber got her report card for the 2nd nine weeks. She made 1 B and 4 A's. She has greatly improved. She has done very well on her reading also. She is the AR leader for her classroom. The closest student to her is still 20 points behind her. Amber is counting the days until 5th grade. Her school uses the 4-H program to supplement their regular curriculum. Amber is excited because she saw a notice for a Horse Care Club. The Horse Care Club teaches you how to groom and care for a horse. She can't wait to participate in this club. Amber has experienced some grief since our last posting. Amber's little baby, Angel (the dog), was taken back to the pound. Angel was tearing to many clothes and she was biting hard. Angel had also become an accomplished jumper. She could jump very high and would scratch you with her paws and teeth. Amber was sad to see Angel go, but she asked for us to get rid of her. Fortunately, Grandma got a miniature Chihuahua. He is an adorable looking little puppy. He only weighs about 1 pound and 12 ounces. Grandma allowed all of us to help name it. Amber suggested Pepi, as in Pepi Le' Pew. Amber likes Pepi, but hasn't decided if she wants to have a dog like Pepi for her own. Amber had a lot of fun shopping at Limited Too. She bought 2 tops on clearance and a pair of sunglasses.

Alyssa
Alyssa also got her report card. Alyssa received 1 B and 7 A's. She has also improved this grade period. Alyssa is looking forward to 4th grade. She wants to get Amber's teacher, Mrs. Carrasco. Alyssa was glad to see Angel go. Alyssa loved Angel, but didn't like her because she could jump higher than she was tall. Alyssa is not much of a dog lover. She has really taken to Pepi, though. Pepi is just the right size dog for her. Pepi also has a wonderful temperment and personality. Alyssa tells me that she is not very keen of her current teacher, Ms. Greenwald. Alyssa says that Ms. Greenwald is mean. (I think Ms. Greenwald is a very tough teacher, but I don't think she is mean.) Alyssa went shopping today for some new clothes. Amber and Alyssa worked out a deal with their shopping cards from Christmas. Amber gave $25 of her Penney's card to Alyssa in exchange for Alyssa's $25 card from Limited Too. Alyssa had a lot of fun shopping with at Penney's. Alyssa bought a pair of jeans, a pair of khaki's, a skirt (with attached shorts) and a t-shirt.

Kim
I have started a new quarter of school. I made 1 B and 2 A's last quarter. This was my 1st B in school since I started back in school. I also got my scores for the NLN-RN Pre-Entrance Exam. I ended up with a 92. From what I have heard that is a great score. So far, out of every one that I have talked that already has their score back the closest to my score is 1 person who made a 91. Every one else has been in the mid to upper 80's. So, I am feeling pretty confident about my NLN score. This quarter I am taking 2 tough subjects which are Medical Microbiology and the last half of Anatomy & Physiology. This quarter in A&P we will learn about blood, the heart, the digestive system, the endocrine system, and the reproductive system to name a few. These are very detailed systems with lots of minute details to learn. Wish me luck. I have put in my application for the nursing program. Now it is a wait and see thing. The application states that we have until April 1st to complete any required courses which basically means they will not start making any decisions until the grades for this quarter come out. Like I said, it is now a wait and see thing. I have not had the chance to go shopping with my Christmas money. I hope to buy some jeans and a good lightweight jacket.

We just finished Christmas on January 14th. This was the first opportunity that the Watkins could all get together. So needless to say, my Christmas tree is still up. I plan to take it down tomorrow. The girls and myself had a great Christmas and we hope that all of you did too. We are praying that every one has a great year.