TBT Nicky style

Last weekend Michael wanted to watch some old home videos.  They've been sitting in the closet for years, so I said heck, why not.  Looks like 2005 is when we started putting them onto DVD instead of VHS tapes, but since we don't own a VCR anymore, we can't watch the videos from '99 to '04.  Not until we get around to transferring the original Hi8's (or whatever they were) to DVD or Blu-ray.  Pain in the rear!  But anyway, we watched a couple from '05 and '06.  I forgot just how different it was then.  Nowadays our home videos are something like 60% concerts, then birthdays and holidays.  When the kids were little, we just filmed them being kids.  And man oh man, I forgot how noisy it is to live in a house with little kids.  After watching several whiny kid outbursts, Nate and I looked at each other and wondered how we survived those years.  Probably because the kids were adorable even when they were little monsters.  I had to put a few scenes together from 2006 that showcase Nicky when he was 2 and cuter than a bug's ear.

holiday recap 2014

Michael got another letter, this time for Marching Band.  I don't remember what all the requirements were, but one of 'em was to make at least 90% of practices, and I don't think he missed any.  He stood out among his peers and earned a tough solo part despite being a sophomore.  But he didn't like it and doesn't want to do it this year, sigh.  We have lots of experience with the kids trying other (usually sporty) things and it not working out so slick, so it was easier to let it go.  But it's tough to know what to do when you think your kid is good at something but doesn't wanna do it.  We already 'made' him do it last year to at least try it out. 

Nicky was asked to be in an 'honor choir' that performed during the holiday concert just before Christmas.  There were fifteen 5th graders from each of the 5 district grade schools.  The various high school choirs and swanky wind ensemble band played too.

Our little forest of fake trees, all scored from garage sales.  They're kinda short though, so that's why we bought the bigger one that had all that ugly LED light on it.  But only after it went on sale.  And we had 40 bucks in rebates.  And we bought some non-LED lights at 70% off for next year.  Dunno if we paid retail price for anything in our house, now that I think about it.

It's Christmas Eve, yee-haw!  The kids could barely sit still to take a pre-present-opening pic.  Earlier, Michael had played trombone in a little brass ensemble at the mega-packed 4:00 mass, and then we headed home for dinner - turkey, my fav.  Mmm.  Anyway, they were raring to go by this time.

The following morning, after opening Santa's loot.  Ahhhhhh.  So much glee shoved into so little time.  Nate and I were breathing a sigh of relief too, having made it that far with nobody getting ill with a barf bug or the flu.  They'd had to go to school through Tuesday the 23rd, and so many kids were out sick for much of December.  I gave them speeches every day before school about germs and hand washing and not touching your face blah blah blah...

For Christmas on Nate's side, several of the grandkids play their various instruments before we open presents.  For the past few years, our older 3 played music arranged by Nate.  Sort of a weird trio of trombone, violin, and clarinet, but it works okay.  Nicky played trumpet for one of the songs.  Notice Adrienne's lack of glasses.  She just got contacts.  Not enough to wear every day, cuz they're the dailies, but she's pretty psyched.  It's nice to see her eyes again. 

The house is quiet with the kids back in school, and a mild December has given way to a frigid January so far.  But we had a lovely time with our loved ones over the holidays.  Hope you had a Merry Christmas, too.  Happy New Year 2015!