Things have been winding down a little while we've been winding up!  Winter break means the end of swimming and breaks from school.  While I wrapped up fall swimming, the sisters hid in the locker room! I've been swimming since last June, so I am definitely ready to try a new sport.  I thought long and hard about my many choices, and settled on Irish Dance.  I like the jig, I think. 

Marina is excited to try the Irish Dance too, but since basketball just started, she'll have to wait until March. 

Marina is happy to wait, because she loves basketball.  It's hard work for her (on account of all those 6 year old boys she plays with!), but she says that is what makes it more important to her than an easy sport.  On Monday night the whole team went to Vanderbilt for a college basketball game.

 

We also took some time to enjoy the season. 

We've been super duper busy! We've been decorating and baking and eating!

We've seen the local lights and also some local Santas.

 And the sisters went to a party while I was in school Monday:

 


The weather has been pretty nice, so they road their bikes to the library, where the party was, and back.

 

 Since they got a party with Mom on Monday, I got her for my school party Tuesday.  It was a half day, and basically just a big party day from beginning to end.  Just how I like it.

 
And then today, we were all home, so Mom and some friends took all the kids to Dolphin Tale at the dollar movies- which was great for the bigs, but not so great for the littles.  Popcorn EVERYWHERE.  Oh well! Great news though- our Nashville Zoo membership is reciprocal with the Clearwater Aquarium- so we're probably going to get to see Winter- the dolphin for Dolphin Tale- when we're in Florida next week! Hope we can squeeze it in!