December Happenings {Catching up Post: Part 1}

Catching up from the month of December because it was a whirlwind of a month! Our foster kiddo was reunified with his family(after 4 months of being with us)  a week before Christmas and we were SO very happy for him! He did get to help decorate the tree, so we were happy to be able to share a little bit of Christmas with him before he left!

The kids got to do some ice skating at Southglenn which they loved.

 We started our book advent to count down to Christmas! 

We had some nice snow in December and I got to go with Elijah to the Littleton Historical Museum on a field trip. It was actually really cool to go in December. It was so pristine and looked so authentic with the freshly fallen snow! 

The kids and Mark got to go to The Parade of Lights downtown 

with our missional community group.

(I was home with our little foster guy who was sick) 

 The girls and I went to The Denver Flea which was this VERY cool small business warehouse- the coolest thing ever. I was in love. 

 The twins Girl Scout troop helped throw a fun Christmas community event at the Grange. 

 After the party, we took the kids to see some nearby lights. 

 I got to go with Ella's 3rd grade class to the Denver Art Museum. Good times. 

 The kids typed up this awesome Christmas list that I never want to forget! 

We had to say goodbye to our mice (very sad day) 

and got a new hamster which the children named, Dr. Calico

 We made Christmas cookies and delivered them to all our neighbors. 

Stay tuned for the last half of December in my next post.....

Staying Fit: Hop-A-Thon, Fun Run and Powell Track

I love that our schools have many outlets to promote health and fitness with our kiddos! 

 Hop-A-Thon 2015

 PTO sponsored event that raised around $11,000 this year for our school! 

 Fun Run 2015

Our Hopkins kiddos run up the hill to Twain Elementary and then we all run back together. 

The PTO buys a Hopkins T-shirts for every kid in the school- just LOVE this tradition! 

 Our PE teacher runs this event for the school. 

 Powell Track and Field

 The twins signed up for this after school and I was so proud of them for trying! 

Can't even believe they could jump over those hurdles. 

 long jump

100 meter dash 

Love that they are growing up with lots of exercise! 

The arts and our children

Hopkins has an Art and Music Night once a year our kiddos. This year, the play was The Principal and the Pea. Ella had a speaking part and Elijah sang with his class. Its usually about 20 minutes and they sing a lot of songs. Its a class act and I love that it gets them in front of people talking and singing, which will serve them well some day. 

 They also have several pieces of art displayed around the school. 

 The twins also had a band concert the same month. Sophia plays the baritone and Arianna plays the French Horn. Of course, they sit in the back but it was still nice to hear them play. It's amazing what this teacher does with 80 kids in 8 weeks! Impressive! Can't wait to hear them play at the end of the school year. 

 They had lots of support in the audience:)