Our Baby Boyer: 9 Years, 11 Months...Merry Christmas Nana Carol!

This was a very emotional holiday season. Student Council sponsored Spirit Week at school. Mom embarrassed me by dressing as an elf and ugly sweaters, and even performed in the staff holiday dance on stage. Don't get me wrong, I think I laughed and cheered the loudest while they were doing it! I enjoyed wearing a Santa hat, pj's, and a Christmas shirt. At our class Christmas party, we got to make slime!
We went over to Aunt Lisa's to celebrate Nana Arden's birthday, and then I went again the next day to play with Corinne.
This Christmas was bittersweet for our family. Two days before Christmas, Nana Carol died. I'm still having a hard time understanding and it hits me at the strangest times. I feel like she and I were just finally starting to get to know each other. I got to wear the charm bracelet we picked out at her visitation and funeral, which was really special. The evening that she died, we went to a Frankenberg gathering and enjoyed spending time with Papa Ron and his family. We plan to spend a lot more time with him.
We enjoyed the time we did have at Christmas. We went to visit Grandma Rose and Uncle Clarence (who is staying with her right now.) He knows a lot about animals and the weather! It was also nice to hang out with Grandma Rose. We visited with Papa Ron, Uncle Mark, Aunt Julie, and Chase for a while before going over to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's for Christmas. I had a blast playing with Hadley! She and I got a lot of the same gifts (a bracelet maker, make-up, and a matching shirt.) I really think we could be twins!
When we got home, we had to say good-bye to Elmo and get ready for Santa to come. The next morning was fun. Santa brought me a dollhouse that I have to put together. Mom told me that she would help me and maybe we could get Papa Ron to come down and help too sometime. We spent the rest of the day at Nana Arden and Papa Rodney's. Corinne came home to try and spend the night with us, but asked to go home around 11:30.
Over the break, we celebrated Nana Carol's life at her visitation and funeral. It was really hard feeling sad and seeing people cry. That always makes me want to cry.
We tried to do some "normal" things over break too. I had a dentist appointment and had Lila spend the night. We celebrated New Year's Eve at Carrie's this year with the play date friends. It was a lot of fun decorating gingerbread houses, eating junk food, and attempting to build forts and watch a movie.
It was hard to go back to school, but it was also nice to see my friends and get back to a routine. The first weekend after the new year, I went to a swimming birthday party at the ARC for Samantha. I wasn't able to attend the rest of the party because we already had plans at Aunt Lisa's. Aunt Michele was in town, so we got more pizza and playing!
We are doing a spring musical in choir and I am so excited! It is called "Summer Camp" and I have already auditioned. I can't wait to find out what part I got!
The past weekend has been all about snow. We got out early Friday because a huge storm had started and I rode the bus home with Lila. We had a blast in the snow for hours and stayed up way too late. Because of the 17+ inches of snow that we got, Mom couldn't come get me until Sunday afternoon! It was an all weekend sleepover!
I can't wait to see what this next month brings. In one month, I will be double-digits!!!

Recreating Emily's McDonald's pictures (she was with Daddy and I was with Mommy!)

Loving on Twist

I love to read to Emily

And walking with her

School Christmas parties-my slime party, Emily's pj party

My first Christmas gift-GUM!!!!

Celebrating Christmas with Grandma Rose

We got to see Uncle Clarence too

A little unicorn ring toss with Hadley

My stash at Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Tom's

A Fit Bit!

Saying good-bye to Elmo

Merry Christmas

I was very proud and excited of my gifts to mom-a coloring sheet, an emoji pillow, hair "bobbles", and a homemade card! I couldn't wait to give them to her!